Spring-operated mechanism



C. E. ANDERSON-v SPRING OPERATED MECHANISM. APPLICATION mu) SEPT- 20. 1918.

Patented May 11, 1920.

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.. @MTED rEsPATENT OFFICE I *ARL ERIC ANDERSON, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE BRYANT ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF BBIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CON- 'NECTICUT.

SPRING-OPERATED MEGHANISIM.

Specification. of Lettersiatent.

Patented May 1 1, 1920.

Application filed September 20,1918. Serial No. 254,957.

To all whom it may concern Be it lmown that I, CARL Enro ANDERSON, fa citizen of the United States of America, residing at Bridgeport, in the county or' ,Fairfield and State 01": Connecticut, have invented a'certain new and useful Improvement in Spring-Operated Mechanism, of

which the "following is a specification.

My invention relates to spring-operated mechanism and particularly to electric switch mechanisms, the object of my invention being to provide an improved spring guide and associated members, readily made and assembled and eiiicient in operation.

The present application is in part a division of my copending applications Serial Nos. 127,146, tiled October 23, 1916, and 17 1,7d3, filed June 14, 1917, and in part a continuation thereof.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure l'is a vertical section through a switch in which my invention is embodied in one form;

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the switch spring and guide elements;

Fig. 3 is a similar view of a modified construction of the guide and bearingwashers; and a" N Fig. 1 is a perspective of a modified guide.

\Vhile the present guide and associated parts may be utilized in other relationships, they are primarily designed for the operating mechanism of an electric switch and l have accordingly shown them embodied in a construction of the ty )e set forth in my copending application Serial No. 174,7

The switch comprises a the I above mentioned.

cup-shaped insulating body 10 into 46 "nals 11 and 12. A carrying yoke 13 spans the open face of the body and guides the push buttons 14 and 15 which operate the switch mechanism.

Upstanting from the bottom of the chamber is a frame 16, secured by screws 17 and on which is pivoted at 18 the oscillating rocker 19 and at a lower point 20, the oscillating carrier 21 for the switch blade 22. Rigid with the rocker 19 is a cross bar 23 and parallel thereto is the cross bar or bridge 24 of the switch blade carrier. Between these cross bars is confined the switch operating coil spring 25, which on the shifting of its upper end from one side to the other chamber of which project the switch termi-' of the pivot point 20 by the depression of one or the other of the push buttons 14 or 15, throws the blade carrier 21 across its arc of motion and makes or breaks with a snap action the contact between the blade 22 and the switch terminals 11 and 12.

In order to support and guide the switch spring 25 during the operation of the switch, 1 provide a guide comprising, in the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a pair of straps 26 and 27 struck from sheet metal and ofl'set at the opposite ends 28 and 29 so that when juxtaposed a free way is left between them for the play of the cross bar 23. Preferably both straps are identical in shape, being struck from the same die and one reversed in position with relation to the other so that their offsets meet; At one end the straps have formed thereon integral cross heads 30 beyond which project tongues 31. The latter lie flat against each other and enter the perforation 32in the carrier cross bar 24: while the cross heads 30 bear against the inner ifaces of the bar 2 1 and form a stop for the guide pin. A washer 33 interposed between the end of the spring 25 and the cross heads, has a square aperture '34: closely fitting the straps and serving to holdg'; them together in assembled position as well as affording a thrust bearing for the spring end. A similar washer 35, slipped over the opposite end of the guide, affords a spring bearing interposed between the opposite end of the spring 25 and the cross bar 23 of the rocker 19. The oppositely flared ends 36 of the straps assist in springing the straps apart on the insertion of the cross bar 23, an operation which must occur of course after the spring 25 and washers 33 and 35 are in place on the guide.

The construction shown in Fig. 8 is the same in all particulars as that just described except that the washers 37 -38 are of cup shape, the better to receive and confine the ends of the switch spring.

In the construction shown in Fig. 4. the straps are of slightly different shape being oilset at 39 beyond the cross head instead of in advance thereof as at 29 in the constructions above described. Furthermore, the cross bar ends of the straps terminate 105 at the point 4.0 at which they are offset toward each other and lack the flared ends 36 of the construction first described. This is of no importance however when the cross' bar is in the form of a pin e1 inserted between opposite members of a rocker; instead of an integral cross bar as at 23,-since the cross pin would be inserted after the parts are otherwise assembled and could not 111 any event be pressed into position between" thestrapsirom the'end of the guide as in Figs. l3. V

The constructions shown are economical to manufacture, eiiicient in operation and easily assembled. All the parts, with the exception of the spring, are struck from sheet-metal and require no tooling or finishing to prepare them for use. Departures in vshape and construction which fall within thevscope of what I claim as my invention will readilyocCur to those skilled in the art. I claim 1. An operating mechanism comprisinga pair of rocking members, springabutments moving; therewith and an operating coil spring interposed between said abutments; in combination with a guide surrounded'by said springand comprising a pair of spaced straps offset into free juxtaposition at one end and engaging at said end one of the spring abutments, the other of said abut ments lying between the straps andworking in their spaced area against the other end of the coil spring.

2. In a construction such as specified in claim 1, cross heads adjacent one end of said spring interposed between said abutments," 45

in combination with a guide surrounddby said spring and comprising"a'pairlot spa'ced' straps 'ofi set into fre'e' juxtaposition at j'o'ne end and engaging at said endoneotthe spring? abutments," the otherof said abut- Inents lying between the *strap's an'd working in their spaced area againstthe other end of the coil spring; and thecorresponding end of 'saidguide straps being offset intoju'xtm positionto maintainthe straps spaced in the 55 working areao'f said abutment.

5. A coil spr nggu de comp-rlsinga 'palr or spacedsheetmetal straps of llke shape" ofls'et at one end into j uxtapositien'and liavingiadjaeentsaid. end laterally extending'in' 60 t'egifal lugs conjstiti'itin'g a cross headto form a thrust bearing for the end oi" the springsurrounding said guide."

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification) OA'R'L ERIC ANDERSON.

and the strap 40 

